Astros' Keuchel tosses CG, earns first win

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Houston, TX (Sports Network) - Houston starter Dallas Keuchel dazzled in
his second major league start, tossing a complete game and picking up his
first win against the Cleveland Indians, 8-1, in the second of a three-game
set.

Keuchel (1-0), who received a no-decision after allowing one run in five-plus
innings in his first start against the Rangers, surrendered only six hits
while striking out three and walking one en route to Houston's first complete
game of the season.

"I'm so proud of Dallas to come in here and do that," Houston manager Brad
Mills said. "That's his second outing and he's pitched extremely well in both
outings. He did a good job in Texas for us, and you can't say enough about the
job he did today."

"He changed speeds very well," Cleveland manager Manny Acta said. "He did an
outstanding job and gave them an opportunity to get their offense in order."

J.D. Martinez, Jordan Schafer and Jose Altuve hit home runs for the Astros,
who rebounded from Friday's 2-0 loss.

Despite not allowing a hit through the first four innings, Jeanmar Gomez (4-7)
failed to get through six innings for the sixth straight outing. Gomez took
the loss after allowing five runs on six hits in 5 2/3 innings.

"He pitched good [for] four innings and then he struggled in the fifth," Acta
said. "He hit a wall. I don't know if he started thinking about winning the
ball game in the fifth, or something like that. But, you have a long way to go
for 27 outs."

Cleveland scored its lone run in the fourth inning when Asdrubal Cabrera's
solo shot gave the Indians a 1-0 lead.

The Astros exploded for four runs in a power-packed fifth inning. Brian
Bogusevic and Chris Johnson started the frame with a pair of doubles to tie
the game. Two batters later, Martinez hit a fly ball to left field that just
reached the Crawford Boxes to give the Astros a 3-1 lead. Schafer made it
back-to-back jacks for Houston, with an opposite-field home run that also
reached the short porch in left.

Houston picked up another run in the sixth inning after Jed Lowrie worked a
leadoff walk. Carlos Lee followed with a double into the left-field gap to
give the Astros a 5-1 lead.

The Astros tacked on three more runs in the eighth. Altuve led off with the
team's third home run of the day. Lowrie and Lee followed with doubles to give
Houston a 7-1 lead. Two batters later, Johnson smoked the Astros' third double
in the inning and ninth extra-base hit of the day to plate Lee and cap the
scoring.

Game Notes

The Astros' nine extra-base hits were the most the team had since ripping 10
extra-base hits against Tampa Bay on June 26, 2011...The loss snaps
Cleveland's four-game winning streak...Cleveland outfielder Shin-Soo Choo went
1-for-4 with a double and has hit in six straight games...Cabrera has homered
in three of his last four games...Houston is 17-12 at home since April
22...Houston went 4-for-11 with runners in scoring position and left two men
on base.

35roots

CLEVELAND: 1HOUSTON: 8Final

Jun 23 6:37 PM

35roots

Jason Castro grounded out short to first. On the play, Chris Johnson advances to third. Runner on third with two outs and J.D. Martinez due up.